Welcome to Takeover Tuesday!
“Jewel of the Nile” by Tessa Afshar … and a GIVEAWAY! Click To TweetIf you’re the chosen winner, I’ll contact you for your information.
About the book…
Whispered secrets about her parents’ past take on new urgency for Chariline as she pays one last visit to the land of her forefathers, the ancient kingdom of Cush.
Raised as an orphan by her aunt, Chariline has only been told a few pieces of her parents’ tragic love story. Her beautiful dark skin is proof that her father was Cushite, but she knows nothing else. While visiting her grandfather before his retirement as the Roman official in the queen’s court, Chariline overhears that her father is still alive, and discovering his identity becomes her obsession. Both her grandfather and the queen have reasons for keeping this secret, however, and forbid her quest. So when her only clues lead to Rome, Chariline sneaks on the ship of a merchant trusted by friends.
Theo is shocked to discover a stowaway on board his vessel and determines to be rid of her as soon as possible. But drawn in by Chariline’s story, he feels honor-bound to see her safely to shore, especially when it appears someone may be willing to kill for the truth she seeks.
In this transformative tale of historical fiction, bestselling author Tessa Afshar brings to life the kingdom of Cush and the Roman Empire, introducing readers to a fascinating world filled with gripping adventure, touching romance, and a host of lovable characters—including some they may recognize from the biblical book of Acts.
My review…
This is a wonderfully written, biblically based tale. It’s an emotional read with a number of twists. Themes of belonging, family, and friendship are included. Chariline is an enjoyable, strong, and inspiring character. It’s easy to relate to her and her struggles over self-worth. While the story takes place in biblical times, the message is still very relevant today.
This book is part of a series, but it can easily stand alone. The mystery is engaging, and I really enjoyed the ending. I also appreciated the Author’s Note. It’s easy to see why Afshar is a go-to author when it comes to biblical fiction. God’s nature and His love shine through in this story. Spiritual truths, well-developed characters, mystery, and romance combine to make this a book to add to your to-be-read pile if you’re a fan of historical fiction.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
About Tessa…
TESSA AFSHAR is an award-winning author of historical and biblical fiction. Her novel Daughter of Rome was a Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestseller. Land of Silence won an INSPY Award and was voted by Library Journal as one of the top five Christian fiction titles of 2016. Harvest of Gold won the prestigious Christy Award in the Historical Romance category, Harvest of Rubies was a finalist for the ECPA Christian Book Award in the fiction category, and Thief of Corinth was an Inspy Award finalist. Tessa also recently released her first bible study and DVD called The Way Home: God’s Invitation to New Beginnings, based on the book of Ruth.
Tessa was born to a nominally Muslim family in the Middle East and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She then moved to England, where she survived boarding school for girls, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds a master of divinity from Yale University, where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She worked in women and prayer ministries for nearly twenty years before becoming a full-time writer. Tessa speaks regularly at national women’s events. She is a devoted wife, mediocre tomato grower, and chocolate enthusiast. Visit her online at Tessaafshar.com.
Social media links…
Rules for giveaway can be found here.
I haven’t read any Biblical fiction books before, and am curious to give one a try as I enjoy finding characters with strong faith in God in my books.
I haven’t read a lot of them, either. I’ve read a number of Tessa’s books, along with Jill Eileen Smith. Good luck!
I love Biblical fiction and Tessa’s newest book is on my Amazon wish list. I’m looking forward to reading it.
I think you’ll really enjoy it! Good luck!